I don't keep them, but those things look epic 0_0 if you don't mind me asking, how big are they? Do you suppose they could fit in a 29 gallon? Very pretty fish....Posted via Mobile Device

Philnominal

01-11-2012 07:15 PM

Very pretty fish.

magpie

01-13-2012 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diablo13
(Post 947468)

I don't keep them, but those things look epic 0_0 if you don't mind me asking, how big are they? Do you suppose they could fit in a 29 gallon? Very pretty fish....Posted via Mobile Device

They're about 2 1/2 inches long. From what I've read they probably won't get very much longer.

A single pair should be fine in a 29 gallon, depending on your other stocking of course and how much room you have for bottom dwellers. They are very much bottom dwellers and aren't great swimmers overall (they kind of flap around in a jerky way, they don't glide or dart like most other fish.)

The males are supposed to be relatively aggressive with each other, and my male definitely gets ornery and chases the female especially at feeding time, so I'd watch for that and be sure that if you do get a pair that she has plenty of places to escape to. He never does damage to her, though. Once I put floating plants in the tank and dimmed my light a bit with some mesh, he settled down and has been nicer to her since, pretty much only chasing her at feeding time. He doesn't care about other fish at all - yesterday he was essentially spooning with a kuhli loach. ;-)

They like to hang out on things, so a tank with live plants, rocks, and driftwood would be best. They'll also suction up to the side of the glass. I'd say I most frequently see them on rocks, although the female does like this one spot in the middle of the tank on a driftwood branch and will nap there. They also will hang out on lower, broad plant leaves.

I've read about them being picky eaters, but mine have eaten algae/veggie wafers with no problem - they will also snap up pieces of flake food or frozen food that drifts down, and they will also eat live brine shrimp that are small enough to fit into their funny mouths - they sometimes have to spit them out a few times if they're on the larger size. They do eat algae, too. But I don't have an algae problem so I definitely supplement them. I've tried feeding zucchini but they didn't touch it. Not sure they recognize it as food yet. Now that I have the Kuhlis I'll try the zucchini again and see if they'll try it when they see other fish eating it.

Mine seem really happy, and they settled into the tank really quickly and have never been skittish about me being in their faces, staring at them. :-) I love having them in the tank and think they're a great addition. (Especially now since the male is leaving the female alone more.)